District 34 studies taking over special education program

Glenview Elementary School District 34 is exploring a possibility of taking responsibility for one of the special education programs run by a regional cooperative.

Because the program is already operating in the district and serves mostly children from District 34, officials said they would investigate the idea and its impacts more closely through early 2014.

"For the kids it'd be the same program," said Kristin Swanson, director of special education for District 34. "But it'd be easier for the families to interact with one district."

As part of her report on the services of the Northern Suburban Special Education District, Swanson recommended the consolidation idea to district officials at the school board's recent meeting. If anything is implemented, it wouldn't take place until the 2014-15 school year, she said.

The Education and Life Skills program is targeted toward students with moderate to severe cognitive and physical disabilities. It now employs six teachers and serves 40 children — 34 of them are in District 34, according to Swanson's report.

The Special Education District, which offers special education services and programs to 18 different North Shore member school districts, also rents space for the program's six classrooms.

"We have been working with District 34, and we continue to support their examination process," said Tim Thomas, superintendent of the Special Education District.

Thomas said the regional cooperative encourages its districts in regularly reevaluating the programs and the needs of their students.

"All member district should examine their services periodically," Thomas said. "It's a fiscally responsible thing to do."

He added that factors such as program's quality and emergency responsiveness, will be carefully considered before any action takes place.

"It really ends up being an individualized decision for the district and NSSED," he said.

Thomas said School District 112, based in Highland Park, is implementing the same consolidation idea that District 34 is exploring on July 1, once a new school year starts.

The Special Education District, which has been around for about 52 years, offers other special programs to its members, and District 34 is not considering withdrawing from all services altogether.

Over the past decade, Avoca School District 37 and Wilmette School District 39 withdrew from the Special Education District. The two districts joined to form a smaller special education organization. The move allowed students to stay in the area and reportedly saved the districts money, according to Tribune archives.